LOCKED (UP) Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

locked (up)

verb

past tense of lock (up)

as in imprisoned

to put in or as if in prison if they catch you, they're going to lock you up and throw away the key!

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for locked (up)

Verb

Prior to the ⁠verdict, the Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent non-profit organization that promotes press ⁠freedom worldwide, said 29 journalists were imprisoned in Russia in connection with their work.

— Reuters, NBC news, 29 July 2026
The precise number of Americans currently imprisoned or prevented from leaving Iran remains unclear.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of imprisoned

Verb

Anyone possessing marijuana for personal use can be jailed for a month, while distribution and sales are punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment depending on the amount seized.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
Porter County Sheriff's Office records show Dolnics remained jailed without bond on July 29.

— Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Definition of jailed

Verb

Lake previously interned at the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office and has worked as a legal intern and translator in Beijing, China.

— Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026
One of our young people in Tulsa, Oklahoma, interned at a company in their risk management department.

— Byron V. Garrett, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of interned

Verb

Whether you are already incarcerated or dead, you will be found.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
Goodwill notes that 86 cents of every dollar spent goes toward job training, career coaching, and housing support for local veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, unhoused residents, and people with developmental disabilities.

— Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 30 July 2026

Definition of incarcerated

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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locked out

locked (up)

locker

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“Locked (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/locked%20%28up%29. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of locked (up)

verb

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